St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-20
MONTANA CATTLEMEN
They Meet at Miles City to Discuss Sub
jects of Interest to the
Owners of Herds
The Interstate Commerce Law Trottsd
Out for Debate Very Early
in the Day.
nounced Formally Promptly
Sat Upon.
Several Railroad Men Present.. "A
Complete Set of Off,
GERS Elected.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
MILES CITY, Mont, April 19.-Owing to
a delayed meeting of the executive commit
tee 1t was nearly II o'clock this morning
before the cattle men were called to order
by President Bryan, and the annual con-
ventiOn of the Montana Stock Growers
association began. About one hundred
members of the association were present al
roll call. The reading Of the minutes was
dispensed with. Applications for member.
ship to the number of nine were presented.
The secretary delivered his annual report,
reviewing the work OF the association dur
ing the year. He commented on the trials
OF drouth, poor markets and severe winter
weather. The financial exhibit of the
association showed receipts for the year
OF S6.016.79 and disbursements OF
S5, 354. 80, leaving a small balance ON hand.
There were 337 names on the roll of mem-
bershp. during the year Is members had
resigned. 2 had died and 62 new ones had
been added to the roll. The stock inspec-
tion and detective system was reviewed.
The work of the committee on legislation
was apparent in the several enactments of
the late legislature relative to the better
protection and fostering Of the industry.
After the close of Secretary Harrison's re-
port Mr.. Theo Roosevelt took the floor and
suggested change in the report, moving
that that portion Of it relating to
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL
be stricken out. The part referred to fol-
lows the enumeration of the last summers
Drought, the low market and the severe
winter. and reads as follows:
Thinking that these trials were not sufi-
cient for our industry, congress in it's wisdom
has added fourth, the interstate commerce
law, which has seriously interfered with the
attendance at this meeting, owing to the diff
fculty of securing reduced transportation,
and which threatens to Interfere seriously
with the necessary rights and privileges of
the cattlemen of the far West in transporting
their quota of the food supply of the nation
to the Eastern markets for consumption.
Mr.. Roosevelt took the general ground
that any action of the Montana Stock Grow
ers' association condemning the interstate
commerce law would be unwise He re-
garded the bill step i'll the right direction.
though poorly framed upon superficial
knowledge of the error aud abuses to be
renle0led. n. G. COnnOrS took an opposite
view and favored accepting the report just
as it stood, believing it to be proper to
condemn the law from beginning to end.
The matter elected lively discussion,
Roosevelt reasserting his position and af.
firming that the association
CANNOT AFFORD
to go before the people as Joining with the
railroad companies against the bell. Beddla
seconded Roosevelt'S motion. as did several
others. Dr. AmeS offered substitute for
the motion, which was accepted by Roose-
velt. and carried by a large majority. The
| substitute provided that note be introduced
| opposite the clause objected to, stating that
| the association was not committed to the
clanse- under discussion Mr.. Holt then
\ inquired if the Montana association vas
member of the Consolidated Association, and
being informed that it was, moved that the
membership be withdrawn. Before this
was seconded motion to adjourn until 2
| o'clock prevailed and the morning
session terminated. At the after
noon session the first business was
the election of officers for the ensuing year.
| On motion a committee was appointed by
! the chair to nominate officers and an eXecu-
tive committee. Applicants for member
ship were then received into the associa-
tion. Under suspension OF the rules call
| was made for the representatives of the
railroads to address the meeting if they de-
sired. Mr. Mohler, of the Manitoba, re-
sponded, and briefly stated that his road
was not prepared at present to lay down
any policy, owing to the unsettled state OF
affairs brought about by the interstate COM
merce law. but that when the Manitoba got
into Montana, and was prepared for busi-
ness, they would be found willing to
MEET THE PEOPLE HALF WAY
| in the establishment of business relations.
Mr.. Moore, Of the Northern Pacific, declined
| to address the meeting. having had talk
1 with the executive committee. II. E.
! Fletcher, of the Green Mountain Stock
| Ranching company, spoke in the interest of
| the Minneapolis Union stock yards. A
resolution was passed thanking Agent
! Williamson. of the Crow agency, for lucid
explanation of the Indian policy of the ad-
mnistration. Maj. Williamson was called
to the front and responded. Granville
Stewart spoke on the Indian ques-
tion from the stockman's standpoint.
] The committee On election of officers re-
ported selection Of principal officers as fol-
lows: President, Joe Scott, of Miles City;
first vice president, z. +. Potts. OF Helena;
second vice president, William Harmon, OF
Miles City; secretary and treasurer, K. Is.
Harrison, of Helena. The executive COM
mittee, containing a representation for
Idaho. Wyoming and Dakota. as well as
every county in Montana. consisted of nearly
fifty names, and the whole ticket was de-
clared elected. A resolution which had been
drawn some time previously was then
offered. which
READ AS FOLLOWS:
Resolved, That the committee on resolu-
tions be and is hereby instructed to prepare
and submit to this convention resolution
expressing the sentiment Of the citizens Of
Montana here assembled concerning the enor-
nous damage done and dangers threatened
to the infant industries of the West now being
upheld by the hardy pioneers who have re-
claimed from waste the vast domains hitherto
undeveoped, by the recently enacted inter-
state commerce law, and that this committee
be hereby instructed to embody il. said resolu-
tion q recital Of the evil done by this act in
building large terminal towns at the expense
of the country at large, and to the detriment
of citizens of the interior, and OF the great
injustice of destroying the business of roads
of great length for the purpose of building
up short lines.
John Clay, Jr., of Chicago, moved the
resolution be laid on the table. and it was
so ordered. A resolution to assist Ether
ington in securing reimbursement for cattle
killed at Mandan. which were supposed to
have pleuro-pneumonia was adopted. Ad-
journed until 10 o'clock Wednesday.